2007–08 UCLA Bruins men's basketball team

The 2007–08 UCLA Bruins men's basketball team was a college sports team representing the University of California, Los Angeles in the Pacific-10 Conference for the 2007–08 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. In his fifth year as head coach, Ben Howland led the team to its third straight Final Four appearance. The Bruins also set a new record number of wins for the regular season, eclipsing the 26 wins of 2006–07. Though the team is composed of many standout players, freshman center Kevin Love garnered much of the media's and school's attention with his .565 shooting percentage, 10.7 rebounds per game, 5.3 blocks, and 17.6 points per game.[2][3][4][5]

2007–08 UCLA Bruins men's basketball
Pac-10 regular season & Tournament champions
College Basketball Experience Champions
NCAA Tournament, Final Four
ConferencePacific-10 Conference
Ranking
CoachesNo. 4[1]
APNo. 3[1]
2007–08 record35–4 (16–2 Pac-10)
Head coachBen Howland (5th year)
Assistant coaches
Home arenaPauley Pavilion
2007–08 Pacific-10 Conference men's basketball standings
Conf  Overall
TeamW L PCT  W L PCT
No. 2 UCLA162 .889  354  .897
No. 11 Stanford135 .722  288  .778
No. 21 Washington State117 .611  269  .743
Arizona State99 .500  2113  .618
Oregon99 .500  1814  .563
Arizona810 .444  1915  .559
Washington711 .389  1617  .485
California612 .333  1716  .515
Oregon State018 .000  625  .194
USC*07 .000  012  .000
2008 Pacific-10 Tournament winner
As of April 5, 2008; Rankings from AP Poll
*USC vacated 11 conference and 21 overall wins, due to NCAA rules violations.

The only losses the Bruins incurred during the regular season were to No. 8 Texas, and Pac-10 rivals USC and Washington, though the USC victory was later vacated upon discovery that USC player O. J. Mayo received illegal benefits while playing for USC. After becoming the Pacific-10 regular season champions and winning the Pacific-10 tournament, the Bruins were seeded No. 1 in the West Regional bracket of the 2008 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament. In the first round of the NCAA tournament, the Bruins held Mississippi Valley State to 29 points, the lowest total ever allowed in the first or second round of the tournament.[6] After reaching the Final Four for the third year in a row, the Bruins lost to Memphis, the South Regional Champions, though this win was also later vacated as the result of NCAA rules violations.

On August 20, 2009, Memphis' 38 wins during the 2007–2008 season and Final Four appearances were vacated by the NCAA Committee on Infractions for the team's using an ineligible player- Derrick Rose

Recruiting class

US college sports recruiting information for high school athletes
Name Hometown High school / college Height Weight Commit date
Kevin Love
C
Lake Oswego, OR Lake Oswego HS 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 260 lb (120 kg) Jul 25, 2006 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports: N/A
Chace Stanback
SF
Los Angeles, CA Fairfax HS 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 210 lb (95 kg) Apr 22, 2006 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports: N/A
Overall recruiting rankings: Scout: 12   Rivals: 11
  • Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight.
  • In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale.

Sources:

  • "UCLA Commit List for 2007". Rivals.com. Retrieved July 2, 2011.
  • "Men's Basketball Recruiting". Scout.com. Retrieved July 2, 2011.
  • "ESPN – UCLA Bruins Basketball Recruiting 2007". ESPN.com. Retrieved July 2, 2011.
  • "Scout.com Team Recruiting Rankings". Scout.com. Retrieved July 2, 2011.
  • "2007 Team Ranking". Rivals.com. Retrieved July 2, 2011.

    Roster

    UCLA's starting lineup of (left to right) Love, Shipp, Collison, Aboya, and Mbah a Moute.
    2007–08 UCLA Bruins men's basketball team
    PlayersCoaches
    Pos.#NameHeightWeightYearHometown
    G 10 Mustafa Abdul-Hamid 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)195 lb (88 kg) So St. Louis, Missouri
    F/C 12 Alfred Aboya 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)245 lb (111 kg) Jr Yaoundé (Cameroon)
    G 2 Darren Collison (C) 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)160 lb (73 kg) Jr Rancho Cucamonga, California
    F 41 Nikola Dragović 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)216 lb (98 kg) So Belgrade (Serbia)
    G 24 Joey Ellis 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)185 lb (84 kg) Jr Hidden Hills, California
    F/C 13 James Keefe 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)235 lb (107 kg) So Rancho Santa Margarita, California
    G 55 Matt Lee 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)170 lb (77 kg) Sr San Francisco, California
    C 42 Kevin Love 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)260 lb (118 kg) Fr Lake Oswego, Oregon
    F/C 14 Lorenzo Mata (C) 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)240 lb (109 kg) Sr Huntington Park, California
    F 23 Luc Richard Mbah a Moute 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)230 lb (104 kg) Jr Yaoundé (Cameroon)
    F 21 David McGrath 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)205 lb (93 kg) Jr Oxnard, California
    G 5 DeAndre Robinson 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)210 lb (95 kg) Jr Riverside, California
    G/F 20 Michael Roll 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)200 lb (91 kg) Jr Aliso Viejo, California
    F 30 Kevin Schmidt 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)220 lb (100 kg) Fr San Jose, California
    G/F 3 Josh Shipp 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)220 lb (100 kg) Sr Los Angeles, California
    F 22 Chace Stanback 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)210 lb (95 kg) Fr Los Angeles, California
    G 0 Russell Westbrook 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)187 lb (85 kg) So Hawthorne, California
    Head coach

    Ben Howland (Weber State)

    Assistant coach(es)

    Legend
    • (C) Team captain
    • (S) Suspended
    • (I) Ineligible
    • (W) Walk-on

    Roster

    Thirteen scholarships were available to the team, and there were sixteen players on the roster.[7] Kevin Love received permission from Walt Hazzard to wear the No. 42 he wore as player for UCLA.[8] Hazzard's jersey had been retired by UCLA in 1996.[9]

    Schedule

    Collison at the 2008 Pac-10 Championship game
    Russell Westbrook in a game against USC
    Date
    time, TV
    Rank# Opponent# Result Record Site
    city, state
    Non-Conference Season
    November 2, 2007
    No. 2 Azusa Pacific W 111–61  0–0
    Pauley Pavilion 
    Los Angeles, CA
    November 5, 2007
    No. 2 Chico State W 93–55  0–0
    Pauley Pavilion 
    Los Angeles, CA
    Non-Conference Season
    November 9, 2007*
    No. 2 Portland State W 69–48  1–0
    Pauley Pavilion (9,854)
    Los Angeles, CA
    November 12, 2007*
     ESPN2
    No. 2 Youngstown State
    College Basketball Experience Classic
    W 83–52  2–0
    Pauley Pavilion (7,695)
    Los Angeles, CA
    November 13, 2007*
     ESPN2
    No. 2 Cal State San Bernardino
    College Basketball Experience Classic
    W 76–41  3–0
    Pauley Pavilion (7,293)
    Los Angeles, CA
    November 19, 2007*
     ESPN2
    No. 2 vs. Maryland
    College Basketball Experience Classic
    W 71–59  4–0
    Sprint Center (18,022)
    Kansas City, MO
    November 20, 2007*
     ESPN2
    No. 2 vs. No. 10 Michigan State
    College Basketball Experience Classic
    W 68–63  5–0
    Sprint Center (16,737)
    Kansas City, MO
    November 23, 2007*
    No. 2 Yale W 81–47  6–0
    Pauley Pavilion (10,420)
    Los Angeles, CA
    November 28, 2007
     FSN PT
    No. 1 George Washington W 83–60  7–0
    Pauley Pavilion (9,691)
    Los Angeles, CA
    December 2, 2007*
     FSN
    No. 2 No. 8 Texas
    Big 12/Pac-10 Hardwood Series
    L 61–63  7–1
    Pauley Pavilion (12,048)
    Los Angeles, CA
    December 8, 2007*
     KCAL
    No. 8 vs. Davidson
    John R. Wooden Classic
    W 75–63  8–1
    Honda Center (17,440)
    Anaheim, CA
    December 15, 2007*
     FSN West
    No. 8 Idaho State W 89–49  9–1
    Pauley Pavilion (9,733)
    Los Angeles, CA
    December 18, 2007*
    No. 8 Western Illinois W 77–52  10–1
    Pauley Pavilion (8,189)
    Los Angeles, CA
    December 22, 2007*
     CBS
    No. 8 at Michigan W 69–54  11–1
    Crisler Arena (13,069)
    Ann Arbor, MI
    December 29, 2007*
     FSN PT
    No. 5 UC Davis W 76–48  12–1
    Pauley Pavilion (10,242)
    Los Angeles, CA
    Conference Season
    January 3, 2008
     FSN
    No. 5 at No. 20 Stanford W 76–67  13–1
    (1–0)
    Maples Pavilion (7,329)
    Stanford, CA
    January 5, 2008
     FSN
    No. 5 at California W 70–58  14–1
    (2–0)
    Haas Pavilion (11,877)
    Berkeley, CA
    January 10, 2008
     FSN PT
    No. 5 Washington W 69–55  15–1
    (3–0)
    Pauley Pavilion (11,421)
    Los Angeles, CA
    January 12, 2008
     FSN
    No. 5 No. 4 Washington State W 81–74  16–1
    (4–0)
    Pauley Pavilion (12,590)
    Los Angeles, CA
    January 19, 2008
     CBS
    No. 4 USC L 63–72 [note 1]  16–2
    (4–1)
    Pauley Pavilion (12,714)
    Los Angeles, CA
    January 24, 2008
     FSN
    No. 7 at Oregon W 85–62  17–2
    (5–1)
    McArthur Court (9,087)
    Eugene, OR
    January 26, 2008
     FSN West
    No. 7 at Oregon State W 85–62  18–2
    (6–1)
    Gill Coliseum (8,235)
    Corvallis, OR
    January 31, 2008
     FSN PT
    No. 5 Arizona State W 84–51  19–2
    (7–1)
    Pauley Pavilion (11,070)
    Los Angeles, CA
    February 2, 2008
     ESPN
    No. 5 Arizona
    ESPN College GameDay
    W 82–60  20–2
    (8–1)
    Pauley Pavilion (12,111)
    Los Angeles, CA
    February 7, 2008
     FSN
    No. 4 at No. 17 Washington State W 67–59  21–2
    (9–1)
    Beasley Coliseum (9,547)
    Pullman, WA
    February 10, 2008
     FSN
    No. 4 at Washington L 61–71  21–3
    (9–2)
    Bank of America Arena (10,000)
    Seattle, WA
    February 17, 2008
     FSN
    No. 6 at USC W 56–46  22–3
    (10–2)
    Galen Center (10,258)
    Los Angeles, CA
    February 21, 2008
     FSN West
    No. 6 Oregon State W 84–49  23–3
    (11–2)
    Pauley Pavilion (9,727)
    Los Angeles, CA
    February 23, 2008
     ABC
    No. 6 Oregon W 75–65  24–3
    (12–2)
    Pauley Pavilion (11,355)
    Los Angeles, CA
    February 28, 2008
     FSN PT
    No. 4 at Arizona State W 79–40  25–3
    (12–2)
    Wells Fargo Arena (11,419)
    Tempe, AZ
    March 2, 2008
     CBS
    No. 4 at Arizona W 68–66  26–3
    (14–2)
    McKale Center (14,624)
    Tucson, AZ
    March 6, 2008
     FSN
    No. 2 No. 7 Stanford W 77–67 OT 27–3
    (15–2)
    Pauley Pavilion (12,671)
    Los Angeles, CA
    March 8, 2008
     ABC
    No. 2 California W 81–80  28–3
    (16–2)
    Pauley Pavilion (11,614)
    Los Angeles, CA
    Pac-10 Tournament
    March 13, 2008
     FSN
    No. 2 vs. California
    Quarterfinals
    W 88–66  29–3
    Staples Center (17,194)
    Los Angeles, CA
    March 14, 2008
     FSN
    No. 2 vs. USC
    Semifinals
    W 57–54  30–3
    Staples Center (18,997)
    Los Angeles, CA
    March 15, 2008
     CBS
    No. 2 vs. No. 11 Stanford
    Finals
    W 67–64  31–3
    Staples Center (17,534)
    Los Angeles, CA
    NCAA Tournament
    March 20, 2008*
     CBS
    No. 2 vs. Mississippi Valley State
    First Round
    W 70–29  32–3
    Honda Center (17,600)
    Anaheim, CA
    March 22, 2008*
     CBS
    No. 2 vs. Texas A&M
    Second Round
    W 51–49  33–3
    Honda Center (17,600)
    Anaheim, CA
    March 27, 2008*
     CBS
    No. 2 vs. WKU
    Sweet Sixteen
    W 88–78  34–3
    US Airways Center (18,103)
    Phoenix, AZ
    March 29, 2008*
     CBS
    No. 2 vs. No. 12 Xavier
    Elite Eight
    W 76–57  35–3
    US Airways Center (18,103)
    Phoenix, AZ
    April 5, 2008
     CBS
    No. 2 vs. No. 3 Memphis
    Final Four
    L 63–75 [note 2]  35–4
    Alamodome (43,718)
    San Antonio, TX
    *Non-conference game. #Rankings from AP Poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses.
    All times are in Pacific Time.

    Source:[10][11][12][13]

    Notes

    1. USC vacated 21 wins from the 2007–08
    2. Memphis vacated 38 wins from the 2007–08

    Awards

    UCLA's Kevin Love on the perimeter at Pac-10 Championship game against Stanford at Staples Center, Los Angeles, 2008. Ben Howland and the UCLA bench looks on from the sideline.

    Pac-10 Player of the Year

    Kevin Love[14]

    Pac-10 Freshman of the Year

    Kevin Love[14]

    Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Year

    Russell Westbrook[14]

    All-Pac-10 first team

    Kevin Love[14]

    All-Pac-10 second team

    Darren Collison[14]

    All-Pac-10 third team

    Russell Westbrook[14]

    Pac-10 All-Defensive team

    Darren Collison[14]
    Russell Westbrook[14]
    Kevin Love (honorable mention)[14]
    Luc Richard Mbah a Moute (honorable mention)[14]

    Pac-10 Tournament Most Outstanding Player

    Darren Collison[6]

    Pac-10 All-Tournament Team

    Kevin Love[15]
    Russell Westbrook[15]

    U.S. Basketball Writers Association First Team All-America

    Kevin Love[16]

    Oscar Robertson Trophy nominee

    Kevin Love[17]

    U.S. Basketball Writers Association District IX Player of the Year

    Kevin Love[18]

    U.S. Basketball Writers Association All-District IX team

    Kevin Love[18]
    Darren Collison[18]

    Pac-10 Men's Basketball Player of the Week

    Kevin Love – November 19–25[19]
    Kevin Love – January 7–13[20]
    Kevin Love – January 21–27[21]
    Darren Collison – February 12–18[22]

    See also

    Notes

    • The Bruins had the most ever wins for a final record (including postseason tournaments) as well, with 35.
    • Seven of the Bruins wins were vs. ranked teams (AP Top-25) at the time they played: (#11 Michigan State, #20 Stanford, #4 Washington State, #17 Washington State, #7 Stanford, #11 Stanford and #12 Xavier)

    References

    1. "ESPN.com – 2007–08 rankings". Archived from the original on January 31, 2008. Retrieved February 25, 2008.
    2. "Love leads Bruins to third straight Final Four". The Sports Network. March 30, 2008. Retrieved March 30, 2008.
    3. "Memo to the NBA: Love IS All You Need". www.SportsHubLA.com. March 29, 2008. Archived from the original on April 1, 2008. Retrieved March 30, 2008.
    4. "Love is all you need, or at least so it seems". Daily Bruin. March 3, 2008. Archived from the original on November 22, 2008. Retrieved March 30, 2008.
    5. "UCLA 2007–08 team statistics". Archived from the original on March 28, 2008. Retrieved March 30, 2008.
    6. "This week in Pac-10 men's basketball". Retrieved March 30, 2008.
    7. "2007–08 UCLA Bruins roster". Archived from the original on December 3, 2007. Retrieved December 1, 2007.
    8. "Hazzard To Give Up Number". Archived from the original on August 25, 2012.
    9. "Retired Jerseys at UCLA". Archived from the original on April 30, 2008. Retrieved April 15, 2008.
    10. "2007-08 Review" (PDF). uclabruins.com. UCLA Athletics.
    11. "Season by Season Records" (PDF). UCLA Athletics.
    12. "UCLA Bruins Schedule- 2007-08". espn.com. ESPN.
    13. "UCLA Bruins 2007–08 schedule". Archived from the original on November 20, 2007. Retrieved November 21, 2007.
    14. "UCLA Dominates Pac-10 Player of the Year Honors". March 10, 2007. Archived from the original on March 14, 2008. Retrieved March 30, 2008.
    15. "Pac-10 News" (PDF). March 17, 2007. Retrieved March 30, 2008.
    16. "Love Named USBWA First Team All-America". March 17, 2007. Archived from the original on March 18, 2008. Retrieved March 30, 2008.
    17. "Kevin Love nominated for Oscar Robertson Trophy". March 5, 2007. Archived from the original on April 10, 2008. Retrieved March 30, 2008.
    18. "Love Named Sporting News All-American, USBWA Player of the Year". March 11, 2007. Archived from the original on April 10, 2008. Retrieved March 30, 2008.
    19. "Kevin Love named Pacific-10 Player of the Week". November 26, 2007. Archived from the original on March 8, 2008. Retrieved March 30, 2008.
    20. "Kevin Love named Pacific-10 Player of the Week". January 14, 2008. Archived from the original on April 1, 2008. Retrieved March 30, 2008.
    21. "Kevin Love named Pacific-10 Player of the Week". January 28, 2008. Archived from the original on April 8, 2008. Retrieved March 30, 2008.
    22. "Darren Collison Named U.S. Bank Pacific-10 Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Week". February 19, 2008. Archived from the original on March 14, 2008. Retrieved March 30, 2008.

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